After a day off, bowl season picks right back up on Monday with the Quick Lane Bowl between New Mexico State and Bowling Green. That means its time for me to pick things up where I left off in Pt. 1 of my best bets for bowl season.
For those who tailed my previous picks, it’s been a good time. I’ve been picking a lot more winners than losers, and I hope to keep the good fortune on my side for 16 more bowl-game picks all the way up until the first NY6 bowl on Friday night.
Before we get into the picks, here’s a look at where things stand:
New Mexico State vs. Bowling Green: Quick Lane Bowl (Detroit)
New Mexico State has just two losses since the start of October and an average of more than 40 points over its last four games. Bowling Green has lost two of its last three while allowing nearly 40 points per game.
Prince’s Pick: New Mexico State +3.5
Georgia Southern vs. Buffalo: Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, AL)
Buffalo’s offense was scoring four points below its season average during a 1-4 stretch to close the regular season. Georgia Southern was averaging only 19 points during a three-game losing streak leading up to its finale. Looking at the season in totality, I understand why this total is so high. But these teams were trending lower a few weeks ago.
Prince’s Pick: Under 66.5
Memphis vs. Utah State: SERVPRO First Responder Bowl (Dallas)
If Utah State wants to win, QB Cooper Legas is going to need to make plays in the passing game to open things up for RB Calvin Tyler Jr. He’s shown capable in recent games against tougher secondaries, so I’ll take the points.
Prince’s Pick: Utah State +7.5
Coastal Carolina vs. East Carolina: TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl (Birmingham, AL)
If only Coastal Carolina QB Grayson McCall wasn’t in the transfer portal and the team’s head coach didn’t get hired away, the over on this total would’ve been an easy call to make. Instead, I’ll roll with ECU to have its way on offense with no response from the other side.
Prince’s Pick: ECU -7.5
Wisconsin vs. Oklahoma State: Guaranteed Rate Bowl (Phoenix)
It was a struggle for Oklahoma State to score down the stretch of the season, where the Sooners averaged fewer than 14 points over their last five games. A freshman QB going against a tough Wisconsin defense won’t make things any easier. Wisconsin’s QB is also on the way out, but RB Braelon Allen should give them a good advantage.
Prince’s Pick: Wisconsin -3
UCF vs. Duke: Military Bowl pres. by Peraton (Annapolis, MD)
UCF QB John Rhys Plumlee is a lot for any team to handle, particularly as a runner. But even if he’s healthy enough to be a threat with his legs, I think he’s going to have to air it out at some point to keep up with a Duke offense that’s gotten seven passing touchdowns from Riley Leonard the last two games. Oh, and Leonard can run too.
Prince’s Pick: Duke -3
Kansas vs. Arkansas: AutoZone Liberty Bowl (Memphis)
These teams are very similar with dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks to pair with stud running backs. However, Arkansas won’t have its DC, tackle and sack leader Drew Sanders or its receptions leader Jadon Haselwood. I think Kansas can win this game outright.
Prince’s Pick: Kansas ML
15 Oregon vs. North Carolina: San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl
It’s tough picking a spread this large against a team that averaged 35 points, but UNC struggled down the stretch of the season during a three-game losing streak. Now, with top wideout Josh Downs bolting for the NFL, Luke Maye and co. will have a hard time matching Bo Nix and the Ducks’ high-flying offense.
Prince’s Pick: Oregon -14.5
Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss: TaxAct Texas Bowl (Houston)
Texas Tech ended the season on a three-game winning streak, while Mississippi lost three straight. But I get the feeling this game is going to be the Quinshon Judkins show.
Prince’s Pick: Mississippi ML
Syracuse vs. Minnesota: Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl (Bronx, NY)
I don’t trust either of the quarterbacks in this matchup to move the ball, particularly against each team’s stellar pass defense. Outside of Minnesota RB Mohamed Ibrahim, I don’t see where any offense is coming from.
Prince’s Pick: Under 42
Oklahoma vs. 13 Florida State: Cheez-It Bowl (Orlando)
It’s unclear whether Oklahoma will have quarterback Dillon Gabriel for this game, but I’m not even sure how much it will matter against FSU’s defense without stud back Eric Gray. I think Jordan Travis and Florida State run away with this game.
Prince’s Pick: FSU -9
20 Texas vs. 12 Washington: Valero Alamo Bowl (San Antonio)
I’m actually surprised Texas is favored. Without Bijan Robinson, the Longhorns will have a hard time sustaining drives and keeping Michael Penix and Washington’s explosive offense on the sideline. Give me the upset.
Prince’s Pick: Washington +4
Maryland vs. 23 NC State: Duke's Mayo Bowl (Charlotte)
I’m not really sure what to expect from Ben Finley in just his third start of the year, but he was really good against UNC in the Wolfpack’s finale. I’m guessing he won’t be that good, but neither will Taulia Tagovailoa and Maryland’s offense against a tough defense.
Prince’s Pick: Under 47.5
Pittsburgh vs. 18 UCLA: Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl (El Paso, TX)
Pittsburgh has all the momentum with a four-game winning streak, but they’ll be fielding an almost unrecognizable team against a UCLA offense that can put up points in a hurry — if the Bruins have all their big pieces.
Prince’s Pick: UCLA -3.5
21 Notre Dame vs. 19 South Carolina: TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (Jacksonville)
Notre Dame and South Carolina both played strong late in the year, but both go into this game with major holes at positions left vacant by departures. With a run-heavy approach against South Carolina’s awful run defense, I think Notre Dame’s losses will hurt the least, so I’ll roll with the Irish moneyline.
Prince’s Pick: Notre Dame ML
Ohio vs. Wyoming: Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl (Tucson)
Ohio is deploying a backup quarterback. Wyoming is, well, Wyoming. I’m not expecting a whole lot of fireworks in this one. Give me the under.
Prince’s Pick: Under 43
